Story of Television, The
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- Publication date
- 1956
- Publisher
- Institute of Visual Training
- Digitizing sponsor
- Radio Corporation of America (RCA)
Shows efforts of the Radio Corporation of America (RCA) in the creation, development and introduction of the all-electronic TV system; explains how science made television a working reality. David Sarnoff tells of the early research and experiments. Shown is the first successful picture tube, the first experimental TV station, the problems of improving piucture quality and reducing the size and cost of components at the transmitting and receiving ends, and the function of mobile units. Actual scenes from TV "firsts" are included -- President Roosevelt opening the 1939 New York World's Fair, the visit of the King and Queen of England, and the 1940 Republican Convention in Philadelphia. Animated diagrams demonstrate how a TV camera converts electronic beams into a picture.
03:00:00:00 - 03:56:46:23 B/W Sound 1956
RCA promotional film about television tracing scientific
development of electronic television systems from 1920s to 1950s.
Chairman David Sarnoff & Vladimir Zworykin recount early research
and experiments, honing of picture tubes. Animated diagrams of TV
transmission, reception. TV event "firsts" - President Roosevelt
opening the 1939 New York World's Fair, King and Queen of England,
and the 1940 Republican Convention in Philadelphia. Second film-
TV- "A Welcome Guest in The House," narrated by Don Ameche. TV's
role in modern society seen through role in shaping young boy's
goals, imagination. News events, politics, drama, community
advocate, advertiser, bastion of American values & freedom. 3rd
film explains scientific theory of television broadcasting.
03:00:00:00 - 03:02:17:09 B/W Sound 1956
Title on simulated TV screen. VO: "The signature of every century has been its skyline." VS architectural landmarks. Ancient- Egyptian sphinx, Old- Greek Acropolis, Roman ruins, Medieval- cathedral Modern- New York City skyline. PAN TV antennas on suburban houses. "Metal fingers beckoning to the invisible...Our era- the era of television." Young woman climbs hill, looks out over landscape. "The dream of television has persisted for centuries." Devices to extend range of human eyesight- binoculars, giant telescopes. "Could man fling pictures to the sky and gather them at a distant point."
03:02:17:10 - 03:05:26:18 B/W Sound 1956
TU RCA building New York City. "Two men took up this challenge (in
the 1920s). They shared the irresistible dream of television."
David Sarnoff- RCA Chairman of The Board, Dr. Vladymir Zworykin-
inventor of modern electronic television. Sarnoff recalls their
first meeting when Zworykin proposed idea for television
development. "You were an excellent salesman- and I was a good
dreamer." They discuss cost of RCA's development, value. Sarnoff:
"We've extended our sight far beyond the horizon." Original picture
tube on desk. Zworykin shows him modern "grandchild" of original
electronic tube. Sarnoff: reduce costs of television so that "color
television may be within the reach of everyone."
03:05:26:19 - 03:06:07:07 B/W Sound 1956
VO host. Television tube development. CU original 1923 iconoscope
developed by Zworykin. Changed from early disk system. Modern
orthicon from television camera. Kinescope first developed in 1929.
Larger kinescope. Animated cross-section diagram of TV camera.
Process of light refraction, electromagnetic beam scanning picture
of dancing girl. Signals broadcast through antenna tower.
Cross-section of receiving TV set reassembling picture w/
kinescope.
03:06:07:08 - 03:09:30:15 B/W Sound 1956
Empire State Building, NYC. VO- In 1931, National Broadcasting
Company erects antenna on top of building for RCA. RCA refined
scanning lines for greater detail. 1937- RCA NBC mobile TV
broadcasting vans. Two men place large boxy TV camera on tripod.
Engineers monitor signal in control room of van.
03:09:30:16 - 03:11:35:20 B/W Sound ca. 1939
New York World's Fair 1939. World's Fair logo flag waves.
Television debuts at fair. VS RCA exhibit building. (still) David
Sarnoff at podium. "We have added radio sight to sound." First
president televised- FDR officially opens the World of Tomorrow.
King & Queen of England take televised tour. Other TV milestones-
NBC televises first baseball game- August 1939, 1940 political
conventions, Two cameramen prepare camera, subject for TV shoot.
03:11:35:21 - 03:13:15:05 B/W Sound ca. 1941
Spinning newspaper headlines. VO host: 1941- WWII declared. RCA
research center, Princeton, NJ. VS Scientists experiment w/
electronic components- meters, lab equipment. Military products-
sonar for submarines, night vision sniper-scope, 1945- Japan
surrenders- VJ, VE day celebrations in streets. 1949- first TV
presidential inauguration of Harry Truman.
03:13:15:06 - 03:14:45:11 B/W Silent 1956
Male & female workers on assembly lines in television factory-
putting electronics in cases, boxing sets. Fleet of TV service
trucks w/ ladders on roofs in parking lot. VO host: "TV has entered
our homes, our lives... an exhilarating component of our American
way of life." VS antennas, transmitters. B&W as foundation for
color TV.
03:00:00:00 - 03:56:46:23 B/W Sound 1956
RCA promotional film about television tracing scientific
development of electronic television systems from 1920s to 1950s.
Chairman David Sarnoff & Vladimir Zworykin recount early research
and experiments, honing of picture tubes. Animated diagrams of TV
transmission, reception. TV event "firsts" - President Roosevelt
opening the 1939 New York World's Fair, King and Queen of England,
and the 1940 Republican Convention in Philadelphia. Second film-
TV- "A Welcome Guest in The House," narrated by Don Ameche. TV's
role in modern society seen through role in shaping young boy's
goals, imagination. News events, politics, drama, community
advocate, advertiser, bastion of American values & freedom. 3rd
film explains scientific theory of television broadcasting.
03:00:00:00 - 03:02:17:09 B/W Sound 1956
Title on simulated TV screen. VO: "The signature of every century has been its skyline." VS architectural landmarks. Ancient- Egyptian sphinx, Old- Greek Acropolis, Roman ruins, Medieval- cathedral Modern- New York City skyline. PAN TV antennas on suburban houses. "Metal fingers beckoning to the invisible...Our era- the era of television." Young woman climbs hill, looks out over landscape. "The dream of television has persisted for centuries." Devices to extend range of human eyesight- binoculars, giant telescopes. "Could man fling pictures to the sky and gather them at a distant point."
03:02:17:10 - 03:05:26:18 B/W Sound 1956
TU RCA building New York City. "Two men took up this challenge (in
the 1920s). They shared the irresistible dream of television."
David Sarnoff- RCA Chairman of The Board, Dr. Vladymir Zworykin-
inventor of modern electronic television. Sarnoff recalls their
first meeting when Zworykin proposed idea for television
development. "You were an excellent salesman- and I was a good
dreamer." They discuss cost of RCA's development, value. Sarnoff:
"We've extended our sight far beyond the horizon." Original picture
tube on desk. Zworykin shows him modern "grandchild" of original
electronic tube. Sarnoff: reduce costs of television so that "color
television may be within the reach of everyone."
03:05:26:19 - 03:06:07:07 B/W Sound 1956
VO host. Television tube development. CU original 1923 iconoscope
developed by Zworykin. Changed from early disk system. Modern
orthicon from television camera. Kinescope first developed in 1929.
Larger kinescope. Animated cross-section diagram of TV camera.
Process of light refraction, electromagnetic beam scanning picture
of dancing girl. Signals broadcast through antenna tower.
Cross-section of receiving TV set reassembling picture w/
kinescope.
03:06:07:08 - 03:09:30:15 B/W Sound 1956
Empire State Building, NYC. VO- In 1931, National Broadcasting
Company erects antenna on top of building for RCA. RCA refined
scanning lines for greater detail. 1937- RCA NBC mobile TV
broadcasting vans. Two men place large boxy TV camera on tripod.
Engineers monitor signal in control room of van.
03:09:30:16 - 03:11:35:20 B/W Sound ca. 1939
New York World's Fair 1939. World's Fair logo flag waves.
Television debuts at fair. VS RCA exhibit building. (still) David
Sarnoff at podium. "We have added radio sight to sound." First
president televised- FDR officially opens the World of Tomorrow.
King & Queen of England take televised tour. Other TV milestones-
NBC televises first baseball game- August 1939, 1940 political
conventions, Two cameramen prepare camera, subject for TV shoot.
03:11:35:21 - 03:13:15:05 B/W Sound ca. 1941
Spinning newspaper headlines. VO host: 1941- WWII declared. RCA
research center, Princeton, NJ. VS Scientists experiment w/
electronic components- meters, lab equipment. Military products-
sonar for submarines, night vision sniper-scope, 1945- Japan
surrenders- VJ, VE day celebrations in streets. 1949- first TV
presidential inauguration of Harry Truman.
03:13:15:06 - 03:14:45:11 B/W Silent 1956
Male & female workers on assembly lines in television factory-
putting electronics in cases, boxing sets. Fleet of TV service
trucks w/ ladders on roofs in parking lot. VO host: "TV has entered
our homes, our lives... an exhilarating component of our American
way of life." VS antennas, transmitters. B&W as foundation for
color TV.
- Addeddate
- 2013-07-30 20:26:57
- Color
- color
- Identifier
- 0578_Story_of_Television_The_13_37_07_00
- Sound
- sound
- Year
- 1956
comment
Reviews
Reviewer:
Seychelle
-
favoritefavoritefavoritefavoritefavorite -
April 11, 2019
Subject: Please contact me
Subject: Please contact me
Really interesting footage! Would love to make contact with the person who uploaded this - I'd like to verify the licensing information to determine usage for television. Thank you. fucoordinator@gmail.com
Reviewer:
Guru42
-
favoritefavoritefavoritefavorite -
January 22, 2017
Subject: RCA infomercial very interesting bit of geek history
Subject: RCA infomercial very interesting bit of geek history
A propaganda infomercial by RCA to brag about what they have done in the world of television. Not the most historically accurate account of television, but still a very interesting bit of geek history.
Sarnoff loved being called "general" and Zworykin, as a loyal servant of RCA refers to Sarnoff as "general" during the dialogue between the two men, pretty funny.
Even though many others worked to invent television, and working models were demonstrated before RCA, Sarnoff used the 1939 Worlds Fair to introduce commercial television to the world.
Why is this same movie listed numerous times on Archive.org?
Sarnoff loved being called "general" and Zworykin, as a loyal servant of RCA refers to Sarnoff as "general" during the dialogue between the two men, pretty funny.
Even though many others worked to invent television, and working models were demonstrated before RCA, Sarnoff used the 1939 Worlds Fair to introduce commercial television to the world.
Why is this same movie listed numerous times on Archive.org?
Reviewer:
Spuzz
-
favoritefavoritefavoritefavorite -
February 7, 2016
Subject: (Until 1956 that is)
Subject: (Until 1956 that is)
Not bad doc about the many advances television had gone through to 1956. Although padded somewhat at the beginning with a history of how man wanted to see "beyond the valleys" the film gets back on course by telling the many wonders television pioneers, more specifically, RCA, has done. We get to see a very badly done "conversation" between two of them. What could have been an interesting talk just looks like two old men reading from cue cards (and that's what it is). The historical aspect of tv is shown from it's mainstream introduction at the world's fair to them bringing tv on the road, and then! to Color! The color portions are suspicious because of course, we're seeing film stock and not actual color TV, so it aint that sharp. But interesting trivia about firsts in color tv broadcasts are told here.
The film is somewhat badly spliced but still somewhat interesting to watch.
The film is somewhat badly spliced but still somewhat interesting to watch.
